The Democrats’ “Path out the Wilderness”

March 10th, 2025

Ty Tan

This isn’t the first time the Democrats have faced an identity crisis. In 2004, the Democrats were dead-set on victory, as they were certain that Bush, the president who had set into motion the widely unpopular Iraq war, would fail to return to office. Yet, the shock of Bush’s victory that year was repeated in 2024. As the Democrats are beginning to ease into Trump’s presidency, the face of the Democratic Party is getting lost in the wilderness. However, we can’t forget the slogan “Build, Back, Better,” in this time of uncertainty, as the Democratic party looks to rebuild its reputation. To do so, this article will reflect on the missteps of the Democratic party by expressing the opinions of the cited academics, politicians, and more, but aims to ultimately provide some context for future discussions in the Speech and Debate space on how the Democratic Party can find a path out the wilderness.

Identity Politics

When identifying the Democrats’ failures, many point out DEI policies. “We were the language police,” put Matt Bennett, the Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third Way in an interview with The Economist. The Democrat's policing of cultural behaviors was a major policy mistake. In being adherent to norms around how things are said, Democratic leaders made promises to organizations that promoted DEI policies. In doing so, they isolated the white-working class, by making them feel like they were “fundamentally racist.” Despite aligning with their values, the engagement of identity politics and DEI-focused organizations by the DNC created the perception that they were the Progressive Movement, even if that was an obvious misconception. In sum, Matthew Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy bluntly states, “The…Democrats should do…a deeper rethink of a consistently failed strategy of reaching out to an imagined constituency…”

To address this problem, some steps have been proposed. For example, Third Way further recommends a policy of “Reject the Pledges” by refusing certain demands from far-left groups, as embracing and pivoting on opinions has proven to be a “political poison.” The stances presented simply aren’t winnable; that’s the bottom line.

Economic Policy

It wouldn’t be a lie to say that if you went out on the streets and asked any American, “What was Kamala Harris’s plan for the economy?” — most wouldn’t know the answer. This idea was a notable take of Matt Bennett in his interview with Idrees Kahloon for The Economist. For most Americans, they simply saw the “bad” economy in front of them, and the plan Trump presented. Even though the Biden Administration led a strong economy, through growth that surpassed expectations alongside the growth of productivity, many Americans didn’t see its effects but rather felt pain, as high headline inflation under Biden left many Americans dissatisfied. Where the Democrats failed was in their messaging and policy, failing to create an economic strategy that resonated with working-class voters.

Thus, Faiz Shakir, the founder of the More Perfect Union argues that the first thing the Democrats must do is rebuild their connection with the working class. Mr. Shakir emphasizes a few reforms to the DNC, notably recruiting working-class candidates, offering bolder economic ideas that can be implemented quickly, and being willing to publicly decry corruption and inefficiencies in our bureaucracy. Through a stronger economic vision that relates to voters, the Democrats can meet people where there at; a fundamental philosophy long abandoned.

The Future

Navigating politics is a difficult topic, but this article hopes to provide insight into what Democrats believe must fundamentally change to give the Democrats a chance in 2028. To finish off this article, I believe the words of the senior speechwriter to Barack Obama, Sarada Peri, give the most powerful message for what the Democratic Party must do in the future. “If Democrats are going to be ready with an actual narrative about why Americans can trust us to lead — if we’re going to tell a story that is authentic and persuasive and not only speaks to people’s concerns but also to their moral and material aspirations — then we need to put aside everything we know and ask ourselves the most basic questions: Who are we? What do we believe? What America is possible?”

With the following read more here, bear in mind that many of the articles linked are further opinions and extended details on what is explained above. Thus, when reading, understand that the articles represent the opinions of leading voices in the Democratic community, and should not necessarily be treated as fact.